Government Clueless How Advance Payments Will Be Made To Settlers

Aaron Lerner Date: 28 July 2004

Eli Yosef, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, told IMRA this morning
that he was "clueless" how advance payments will be made to settlers who
leave their homes in the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria. He explained that
it is not clear if a way could be found to use funding from an existing
budget item or if a new budget item would be required. Even if an existing
budget was tapped it was not clear if this would require at least approval
of the Knesset Budget Committee. He suggested checking with the Ministry of
Justice.

Jacob Galanti, spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, told IMRA this morning
that he is "clueless" how advance payments will be made to settlers who
leave their homes in the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria. He said that the
decision to make advance payments could be made by the Cabinet (aka
"Ministerial Committee for National Security" also translated into English
as the "Political-Security Cabinet") but that it is not clear if a way
could be found to use funding from an existing budget item or if a new
budget item would be required. He noted that ultimately a compensation law
will have to be passed by the Knesset. Even if an existing budget was tapped
for the advance payments it was not clear if this would require at least
approval of the Knesset Budget Committee. He suggested checking with the
Cabinet Secretariat.

A spokeswoman at the Cabinet Secretariat told IMRA this morning that she was
"clueless" how advance payments will be made to settlers who leave their
homes in the Gaza Strip and Northern Samaria.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il